Skip This Overpriced Tour of Austin

Activity: Austin Duck Adventures
In 10 Words or Less: This duck-themed tour isn’t worth the bill. (Pun intended!)
Where: Leaves from the Austin Visitor Center, 602 East 4th St
Cost: $27.95 for adults, $17.95 for kids
Rating:

When you hear the word “Austin,” what animal do you think of? Probably bats, since the Congress bridge is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America. Or maybe armadillos, which many people consider the city’s unofficial mascot.

It’s not ducks, that’s for sure. Austin is not famous for ducks. So why does Austin Duck Adventures exist?

The premise of Austin Duck Adventures is simple. You start by driving around downtown Austin while your tour guide tells you facts about the city. Then you head out to Lake Austin, where you drive into the water and your bus turns into a boat. After 20 minutes in the water, you head back to the Austin Visitor Center.

It’s very tame. They shouldn’t be allowed to use the word “adventure”.

One problem with Austin Duck Adventures is that Lake Austin, while beautiful, has nothing of interest on its banks. Absolutely nothing. It’s just trees, rocks, and rich people’s houses.

Poor Captain Darryl was trying his best, but pointing out a mansion where Dennis Quaid used to live isn’t exactly captivating.

The best part of Austin Duck Adventures is the plastic yellow quacker you’re given as you board. At several points during the tour, your captain will turn on a song (for example, the Chicken Dance) and encourage you to quack along. It’s ridiculous but really fun.

Austin Duck Adventures isn’t terrible, especially if you have young kids, but I think there are better ways to learn about Austin. Seriously, I learned more about Austin history on the ghost tour than I did on Austin Duck Adventures.

Also, annoyingly, I didn’t learn a single fact about ducks! If you’re going to call yourselves a duck tour, you’d better tell me something duck-related.

Helpful Tips:

• I wouldn’t go on Austin Duck Adventures on a hot day. It’s an open-air bus and you sit there for a while before the tour leaves.
• When the bus goes into the water and the second engine kicks on, the back area gets REALLY noisy. Sit near the front if you’re sensitive to sound. (On second thought, skip the tour entirely if you’re sensitive to sound. Those quackers are loud.)
• Watch out for tree branches! I almost got whacked in the face several times.

Austin Duck Adventures Website

The post Skip This Overpriced Tour of Austin appeared first on Austinite Tips.